Bylaws

GREATER HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN HARP SOCIETY

Bylaws as Amended October 1, 2009

ARTICLE I THE ORGANIZATION

Section 1. The Chapter shall adopt bylaws not inconsistent with the Bylaws of the American Harp Society (herein referred to as the National Society or Society). The name of the local organization shall be the Greater Houston Chapter of the American Harp Society.

Section 2. The general aims and purposes of the Chapter shall be to cultivate, promote, foster, sponsor and develop among its members and the general public the appreciation of the harp as a musical instrument; to encourage the composition of music for the harp; and to improve the quality of performance by harpists.

Establish and promote competitions among harpists.

Award grants and scholarships to contest winners and other worthy applicants.

Encourage and promote harp recitals and festivals.

Encourage composers and arrangers to write for the harp.

Commission harp compositions and offer competitions and prizes for musical works featuring the harp.

Offer assistance to composers and arrangers in understanding and effectively writing for the harp. Encourage a standard and consistent system of notation, symbols and markings.

Establish a close working relationship with schools and music faculties to assist in making the harp a more useful element in the instrumental and vocal departments.

Publish articles containing news of general interest to harpists in a publication (website, newsletter), a subscription to which shall be a Chapter membership benefit.

ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership in the Greater Houston Chapter of the AHS shall be open to

harpists and other interested persons.

Section 2. The Chapter shall consist of members as follows:

Active Member: All active members of the National Society are eligible for membership in local chapters. In order to be a member of the Greater Houston Chapter (herein referred to as GHC), it is no longer required to be a member of the National Society. Local chapter members, however, are highly encouraged to join the Society. The benefits of Society membership are to receive the American Harp Journal, the official publication of the Society, and the Directory of the Society, attend National Conferences and Institutes, and compete in National Competitions.

Only Active members of the GHC in good standing (paid dues)

may vote or hold office.

Membership levels include: Individual, Senior/Student

(Elementary – College), and Family. Active membership in local

chapters is contingent upon payment of such dues as are assessed

by the Chapter.

Harp students must be a member of the GHC in good standing

(paid dues) in order to participate in the GHC sponsored student

recitals, Milligan Competition, master classes and the National

Society Music Evaluation Auditions.

Chapters may accept financial and other gifts such as donations to the Mildred Milligan Memorial Scholarship Fund and Friend of the Harp categories, which shall be used at the discretion of the Chapter consistent with the aims and purposes of the Society.

Active membership may be transferred from chapter to chapter within the membership year without payment of additional dues.

Section 3. Dues are to be paid annually in September.

Dues may be established and collected annually not in excess of the amount of National Society dues. Chapter dues shall be expended solely on behalf of the Chapter and in pursuit of the aims and purposes of the Society.

Dues are to be paid to the Treasurer annually in September. The fiscal year of the Chapter is September 1 through August 31.

Section 4. Membership shall continue so long as dues are current. Membership shall

The Treasurer shall update the membership roster after each meeting with the Secretary.

Section 6. The Corresponding Secretary shall send all notices and take care of all correspondence.

The Secretary shall be in charge of keeping membership/

address/phone/email files in proper order and up-to-date and furnish this

data to the President when new members join.

The Secretary shall send all chapter notices from the President including the President’s newsletter to the membership by email or regular mail to members without email.

The Secretary shall collect all votes for elections and amending Bylaws.

ARTICLE IV BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The Board of Directors of the Greater Houston Chapter of the AHS shall

consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chairmen of

all standing Committees and other advisors selected by the President.

ARTICLE V MEETINGS

Section 1. Three (3) or Four (4) performance/meetings shall be held during the

seasonal year.

Section 2. Officers shall handle all business in accordance with Chapter Bylaws and

inform the membership of changes and voting through email and regular

mail for members without email.

Section 4. Other meetings may be called for business or social purposes at the

direction of the President.

ARTICLE VI NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The current officers shall nominate a new slate of officers and present it to

the membership via email or regular mail to members without email for an

e-vote or regular mail vote by May 1 of said officers’ final term.

Section 2. Nominations may also be submitted by any member and seconded by

another member and must be emailed or sent regular mail to the Secretary

to be added to the slate of new officers by April 1.

Section 3. Votes are to be emailed to the Secretary where they will be adopted upon

the affirmative vote of two thirds (2/3) of the membership. If members

prefer voting anonymity, the vote may be submitted to the Secretary by

regular mail. A voting deadline will be observed. The President will

publish the results on the website and the Secretary will publish the vote via

regular mail to members without email.

Section 4. The newly elected officers shall take office after the Chapter’s season final

performance/meeting.

ARTICLE VII AMENDMENTS

Section 1. The Bylaws may be proposed for amendment by the officers and submitted

to the membership for an e-vote or regular mail vote. E-votes and regular

mail votes will be sent to the Secretary. The amendment shall be adopted

upon the affirmative vote of two- thirds (2/3) of the membership. A voting

deadline will be observed. The President will publish the results on the

website and the Secretary will publish the vote via regular mail to members

without email.

Section 2. The most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall

govern the Chapter in all cases to which they are applicable and in which

they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of the order

that the Chapter may adopt.

ARTICLE VIII CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Section 1. No Officer or Board member shall be paid a fee or salary for services.

ARTICLE IX DISSOLUTION

Section 1. A. Not less than a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership of a chapter

shall be required for dissolution of the chapter.

If, upon dissolution of a chapter, there shall be any property remaining

after the payment of or satisfaction in full of all just claims and demands against that chapter or the retention of moneys for such purpose, such property shall be distributed to an organization or organizations which qualify as “exempt organizations” under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.